Self regulation of alcohol industry ‘is no regulation’

Alcohol Action Ireland has called on the Government to prioritise the health of children and not to pass the alcohol industry’s self-regulatory codes into law.

However, the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland, which represents manufacturers and distributors of alcohol, said the voluntary codes were already working well and putting them on a statutory footing would strengthen them.

Alcohol Action Ireland told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children yesterday that the Government will be spurning the opportunity to make a significant difference to the wellbeing of future generations if it fails to tackle alcohol marketing and advertising in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill.